Shohei Ohtani is headed to the playoffs for the first time in his career, just put together the first 50-50 season in major league history, is the leading candidate for the National League MVP Award, and continues to show he wants even more.
The usually stoic Ohtani roared after he delivered a go-ahead RBI single in the sixth inning Wednesday as the Dodgers earned a 4-3 victory over the San Diego Padres to inch closer to their 11th NL West title in 12 seasons.
Ohtani can help finish the chase when the teams meet for the final time in the regular season Thursday night at Los Angeles.
“With the fans and within the team, I do feel like there is some sense of elevation when it comes to playing these meaningful games,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton.
The Dodgers (94-64) have a magic number of two to win the division and can complete their regular-season goal with a victory Thursday.
“Being able to celebrate in front of the home fans would be something that I am looking forward to,” said Ohtani, who helped Japan to the 2023 World Baseball Classic title but didn’t make the MLB playoffs in his first six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.
Ohtani has risen to the occasion in September with a .364 batting average, nine home runs, 27 RBIs and 13 stolen bases, including one Wednesday that gave him 56 steals for the season to go with 53 home runs.
The Dodgers will send right-hander Walker Buehler (1-6, 5.63 ERA) to the mound on Thursday. He is coming off a season-best nine strikeouts in a 6-3 loss against the Colorado Rockies on Saturday. Buehler is 6-1 with a 1.80 ERA lifetime against the Padres in 11 starts.
Los Angeles will be without shortstop Miguel Rojas, who is scheduled for an MRI on his left groin after leaving Wednesday’s game but hopes to play in one of the Dodgers’ final three games at Colorado over the weekend. Tommy Edman is expected to take over at short.
Even with the loss Wednesday, the Padres (91-67) are 8-4 against the Dodgers this season and clinched a playoff spot with a victory at Los Angeles on Tuesday. Following a late-night champagne celebration in the locker room, they came back Wednesday and nearly won again.
Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a home run for the Padres, his 21st of the season and his 12th in 33 career games at Dodger Stadium.
San Diego still has the best record since the All-Star break at 41-18.
The Padres also are close to clinching the National League’s top wild-card spot with a 3 1/2-game lead on the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets. The Padres and Diamondbacks will finish with three games against each other this weekend in Phoenix.
“We’re just going to keep coming,” Tatis said. “We still have a shot. We’ll just take what we have left. We’re definitely going to bring the same energy (Thursday) and keep going like that.”
The Padres will send right-hander Joe Musgrove (6-5, 3.95 ERA) to the mound on Thursday. Musgrove is looking to extend his scoreless run after not allowing a run in either of his last two starts and three of his last four, covering 18 innings.
Musgrove will aim for his first career victory against the Dodgers in his 13th start, going 0-7 with a 4.48 ERA against them in 62 1/3 innings.
